Need recommendation to build gaming rig

[lightsticks]

Hi guys, need recommendation to build a gaming rig. On a budget of 1.5k-1.6k including monitor (currently looking at Dell U2312HM ) and OS. Hopefully it is able to last 2-3 years before I need to upgrade. Is it possible to build a rig on this budget able to play gta4, bf3, etc those high graphic intensive games in high settings?

 

[lightsticks]

looking for recommendation still

 

[Teng Zai]

Looking to OC or not? Haswell or IB or AMD? Peripherals? SSD?

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75-DGS @ $291
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $82
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Palit GTX 760 Jetstream @ $379
Case: Sharkoon T5 @ $63
PSU: Seasonic S12 520W @ $78
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110
Monitor: Dell U2312HM @ $250

$1494 tradepac

Just recc this as well, one of nippon bro's IB build.
And yes you can play those games at best settings easily, although some not more than 50 fps stable. Can consider going haswell or 8350 or richland but I don't recommend getting better cpu, just dump in GPU.
GTX 760 interchangeable with card like 7870/7950/gtx670 and can hoot these second hand cards quite easily

 

[lightsticks]

Looking to OC or not? Haswell or IB or AMD? Peripherals? SSD?

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75-DGS @ $291
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $82
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Palit GTX 760 Jetstream @ $379
Case: Sharkoon T5 @ $63
PSU: Seasonic S12 520W @ $78
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110
Monitor: Dell U2312HM @ $250

$1494 tradepac

Just recc this as well, one of nippon bro's IB build.
And yes you can play those games at best settings easily, although some not more than 50 fps stable. Can consider going haswell or 8350 or richland but I don't recommend getting better cpu, just dump in GPU.
GTX 760 interchangeable with card like 7870/7950/gtx670 and can hoot these second hand cards quite easily

not overclocking, no need Peripherals, need SSD 120gb for OS

 

[Teng Zai]

not overclocking, no need Peripherals, need SSD 120gb for OS

Then the build above meet your specs! If got any spare $$ dump in GPU, but do check the PSU 520w may not be enough if you going for a better GPU solution

 

[lightsticks]

Then the build above meet your specs! If got any spare $$ dump in GPU, but do check the PSU 520w may not be enough if you going for a better GPU solution

the above mobo and cpu is good enough? what's the next best alternative for GPU/PSU? let's say another $100-200 to spare?

 

[Teng Zai]

About $100 don't think enough to make a difference and not much upgrade path.
If you add $150 into GPU solution and $50 into PSU.
- GPU can get GTX680 second hand about $500, many for sale at the moment in here as well as blue forum
- GPU 7970, although 3gb vram useless to you if you sticking to 1080p monitor resolution, but anything below that is on-par or below gtx760 performance already. But 7970 and 7950 have great OC capabilities with high membus compared to gtx760. 7970 roughly $400 2nd hand and $500 brand new(powercolor).
- Can get any solid brand(seasonic, corsair, fsp etc) PSU preferably 600-620w+ rated 80+ or gold.

Do look up some benchmarks though and decide if the $200 is worth spending on the games you playing, for the extra fps.

For CPU, yes it is more than sufficient, you can consider 3470 or 3570 or the K series of them if you want better CPU, but price to performance very low compared to dumping your money into a better GPU solution(if all you do is gaming and non-intensive CPU stuff).

If you want to 'future proof' some more, can go haswell.. Although personally I think haswell is not much of an upgrade and by the time IB becomes outdated, haswell probably follows close.

 

[lightsticks]

how about is i up my budget to $300 more? am i able to get the GPU for first hand?

 

[Teng Zai]

how about is i up my budget to $300 more? am i able to get the GPU for first hand?

Of cos, don't even need to top up. Just that 2nd hand will save you a lot!

CPU & Mobo: i5-3450 & Asrock B75-DGS @ $291
Ram: Kingston 1600mhz value ram 8GB @ $82
ODD: Samsung DVD RW @ $22
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 1TB @ $80
SSD: Plextor M5S 128GB @ $139
GPU: Powercolor 7970 @$496
Case: Sharkoon T5 @ $63
PSU: Seasonic M1211 650W @ $129 (PCT)
OS: Windows 7 Home 64bit OEM @ $110
Monitor: Dell U2312HM @ $250

Took seasonic 650w psu price from PCT cos TP never state.
$1662

If you go for second hand Powercolor card can save $100.
GTX680 totally not worth buying first hand, as it is $700++ at least, even the palit card, but if second hand can get below $500 would be great, if warranty still got at least 1.5Y.

If still want upgrade, consider SLI or Crossfire, because the next upgrade path would be like 770 which is well out of your budget range. Can wait for 9xxx series out and see see also, but no point playing waiting game.

Any more money u can consider better CPU le cos it might bottleneck the GPU although very unlikely.. Do check if the components are compatible though, cos certain card might be too long for the case etc, then need to buy better case if that becomes a problem.

 

[shadow84]

Seasonic M1211 650W is 80+ bronze... try get gold if possible.. since price is $129, can change to fsp 550w 80+ platinum...

 

[Teng Zai]

Seasonic M1211 650W is 80+ bronze... try get gold if possible.. since price is $129, can change to fsp 550w 80+ platinum...

Yeah I have not much knowledge into PSU's. But 550w should be okay for 7970 bah, I just did some searching
Don't need 600w le hehehe.

 

[lightsticks]

is it better to get PC3 1866 G.SKILL RIPJAWS KIT CL9 (4GBX2) at $95?
so the PSU get FSP RAIDER SILVER 550W $89? thanks

 

[Teng Zai]

is it better to get PC3 1866 G.SKILL RIPJAWS KIT CL9 (4GBX2) at $95?
so the PSU get FSP RAIDER SILVER 550W $89? thanks

Platinum, not silver. Plat around $120+ if I remember correctly? Its Arum series rated 92+
And not worth to go above 1600 for rams, the performance is negligible. Just grab the cheapest 2x4 cl9 kit you can find, or pay a little more if you care about aesthetics.

 

[shadow84]

Try get gold, but if on budget den get silver should do fine...

 

[terence52]

Hmm..
At 1.6K I do recommend getting a Haswell setup actually given that it's only for a slight premium.
I5 4570 + Asrock B85M-Pro4 - $383
KVR 8GB x1 or 4GBX2 - $88
Palit GTX760 Jetsteam + Seasonic S12II 520W - $475
Or Powercolor HD7970 3GB + Fsp 550W Platinum - $625
Plextor M5S 128GB - $139
Hitachi 1TB - $85
Lite On DVDRW - $25
Corsair 200R - $70
Windows 7 HP - $115
AOC I2367FH or Dell U2312HM - $240/$255
Total: $1620/$1635 (Slightly higher compared to your initial $1600 budget.)
With 7970 - $1770/1785

 

[lightsticks]

is Corsair 200R or Sharktoon t5 a better case? would prefer a more quiet one..